VOA常速英语:Jurors Remain Deadlocked in Bill Cosby Trial

Bill Cosby’s future hangs in the balance as the jury decides whether or not he drugged and sexually assaulted Andrea Constand.She was operations director for the Temple University women’s basketball team when the alleged assault took place in 2004.

Cosby said the two had consensual relations.

About 60 women have accused Cosby of sexual violations, resulting in civil lawsuits, including one by Constand,but only Constand case led to criminal prosecution because the other alleged incidents happened too long ago.

The once-respected entertainer has had projects cancelled with his reputation is in tatters,said an entertainment analyst, who spoke by Skype.

“You have someone who has held themselves out as a mentor and a pillar of society and has gotten all these accolades and is at the very highest levels of their industry, and to have these accusations come up — and not just one or two, but scores of accusations”

The divided jurors had a series of questions for the judge on Friday, on the definition of reasonable doubt.

Cosby is at the center of a tragedy, said a comedy writer and a one-time admirer of the entertainer.

“someone with the most sterling career, someone that has a huge impact on his community, on comedy in general”

Whatever the outcome of this trial, Cosby’s star is badly tarnished,and he faces a civil lawsuit from an accuser in California later this month.

Michael Solovine, VOA News from Los Angeles